First AHO Homeownership Project to Begin Construction

Just A Start Corporation (JAS) will begin construction at 35 Cherry Street, which will be the first homeownership project developed under the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO). The former vacant lot - provided as a community benefit to the City of Cambridge by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - will include 10 affordable, family-sized homeownership units.

In 2021, MIT transferred the Cherry Street lot to the City, with a stipulation that the parcel be used, in perpetuity, in a way that directly benefits residents in The Port and other surrounding neighborhoods. Over two years, the City conducted an extensive public process, including community meetings and focus groups, that resulted in a set of advisory recommendations on design principles and future development guidelines. Community input was collected on the height of the building, the unit size, site amenities, and building amenities.

In March 2022, the City Council transferred the property to the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust (CAHT) to facilitate the development of affordable housing. The Community Development Department (CDD) and the CAHT issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify and select an experienced affordable housing developer for the site. In October 2023, the City selected Just A Start (JAS), a local non-profit known for following robust, inclusive community processes, and one of the most active affordable housing developers in Cambridge.

In 2024, JAS began the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) process, which resulted in the design of three three-story buildings, with ten new affordable homeownership units, generous living space, and private open space. Units will include six two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units. The units will be solar-energy ready and will meet Passive House standards for energy efficiency. The design has minimal shared systems to simplify long-term maintenance for owners. Affordability will be mixed, with half of the units restricted to households with incomes under 80% Area Median Income (AMI) and half under 100% AMI.

With construction beginning in December of 2025, the building is expected to be completed in Winter 2026. The City will share more information on the marketing and buyer selection process when the time nears. In the meantime, community members can sign up at camb.ma/FTHBlottery to be notified when the application for Cherry Street units becomes available.